LA City workers plan to strike, aiming to “shut down” the city.

Thousands‌ of Los Angeles City Workers Plan to Strike

City workers in Los Angeles are gearing up for a major protest. More⁣ than 11,000 ​employees from SEIU Local 721, which represents‌ over‍ 98,000 county and city workers in Southern⁢ California, are planning to halt municipal operations for at least 24 hours. The strike is in response to what they perceive as a lack of attention to employee resources ⁣and the need for⁤ more staff.

Standing Up ​for Employee ⁢Rights

The union officials have cited “unfair ‌labor practices⁢ restricting employee and union rights” as one of the main reasons for the strike. ‍They are determined to make their voices heard and demand better⁤ treatment ‌from city management. The workers have reached a breaking point ⁣and are ready to take action.

David Green, the executive director and president‌ of SEIU Local 721, stated, “We’re going to shut down the city‍ of Los‌ Angeles. The message we’re sending is that our workers are just fed up. They’ve reached a breaking point. ⁢And we need these folks in⁣ the city⁣ to come back to the table for the good of the city.”

A Citywide Protest

The strike will involve more than 30 picket lines consisting of various workers, including sanitation ⁣workers, mechanics, traffic officers, engineers, and others. The protest⁢ is ‌a response to what the union calls “bad faith bargaining” by city ‍officials. Green emphasized the urgent need to‌ address the issue ‍of vacancies, particularly in the sanitation department,​ which currently has over 900 unfilled positions.

Green stated, “We are going to be throughout the entire city striking​ to send a message that the city’s broken the law. They need to come back to the table, they ​need to fill these vacancies, ⁢and they need to listen to the⁤ concerns of the public.”

Impact on City Services

The strike is expected to disrupt various city services, including trash pickup and Los Angeles Airport security. Picket lines will start forming as early as 4:00 a.m., and workers will gather at⁣ City Hall for a march and rally at 11:00 a.m.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, a Democrat, assured the public that ⁤city officials are available for negotiations. She stated, “They deserve fair contracts and we have been bargaining in ⁣good‌ faith with SEIU 721 since January. The City will always be available to make progress 24 hours a day, 7 days a⁤ week.”

Joining a Historic Strike

This strike comes at a time when Hollywood actors and writers are also engaged‍ in a prolonged⁤ strike. The solidarity among workers across different ⁢sectors highlights the importance of standing up for employee rights and fair treatment.